Receiving apparatus for pneumatic-despatch systems.



H. D. WATERHOUSE. RECEIVING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATUH SYSTEM5.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 23, 190'].

Patented Dec. 8', 1908.

I/V/T/VESSEF m 22 )MPM UTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD D. WATERHOUSE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STORE' SERVICE AND TUBE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

RECEIVING-'APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Application filed October 23, 1907. Serial No. 398,712.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

To all whom it may concern: 1 7

Be it known that I, HAROLD D. WATER- HOUSE, citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk Downs, Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Receiving Apparatus for Pneumatic-Despatch Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to receiving apparatus for pneumatic despatch systems, and more especially to receiving apparatus such as is used for receiving comparatively large carriers at substations.

The apparatus in which the invention is embodied comprises a cushioning chamber arranged in line with or adapted to be brought into alinement with a transmitting tube and providedwith two valves or gates, the inner valve being normally 0 en and the outer valve normally closed. W on the carrier enters the cushioning chamber the air between the carrier and outer valve is compressed and forms an air cushion for stopping the carrier. The compression of the air between the carrier and the outer valve sets mechanism into operation which closes the inner valve and opens the outer valve, and also admits compressed air to the cushioning chamber back of the carrier so that the car rier is delivered from the chamber onto the receiving table or pan. The delivery of the carrier causes the valves and operating mechanism to return to normal position ready for the reception of another carrier.

The invention relates to mechanism for operating and controlling the valves, and consists in the combinations and features hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

The invention will be understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus embodying the invention, and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are details of certain valves to be described. A

In the apparatus illustrated the carrier or transmission tube A is connected through a bypass A with a tube A through which the compressed air within the carrier tube passes after the carrier has passed beyond the by- D which is connected toa' piston S mountedin a cylinder R. The outer end of the cushioning chamber communicates through a pipe B with the atmosphere, and the carrier passing through the cushioning chamber passes through the tube B and is delivered onto a receiving pan or table D. The communication between the cushionin chamber and the delivery tube B is contro ed by a gate or valve E which is connected to a piston U mounted in a cylinder T. The upper ends of the cylinders R and T are in free communication with the atmosphere through pipes R and T res ectively, so that the pistons S and U will fall to the bottom of the cylinders R andT when the lower ends of the cylinders are opened to the atmosphere.

The pistons S and U are normally at the check valve V arranged to allow the passage of air to the cylinder, but to prevent the pas sage of air from the cylinder unless the valve is held open. When the parts are in normal position the valve V is held'open by means of a bell crank lever F, one armof which acts upon a pin F which raises the valve V, and the other arm of which is connected by a link W with a second bell crank lever Y. The bell crank lever Y is forced in a direction to disengage the lever F from the pin F by a spring E. The lever Y is held in a position to hold the valve V open by a pin X which is engaged by the piston U'when said pistonis at the lower end of thecylinder T.

the valve P is connected with a diaphragm P arranged in a casing P and held its upper position by the spring P. The c'h amber above the dia hragm is connected througha pipe Q wi "a p ort Qfo'r'med near the upper end of the cylinder R. When compressed air is admitted to the cylinder P and moves the piston S to 'the'uppe'r'end of the cylinder, the piston passes the port Q, which is thus brought into communication with the compressed air within :the lower part of the cylinder, and this air passing throughthe pipe Q operates the diaphragm Pf'an d Opens the valve I L The supply and eiihaust o'f a ir through the pipe is controlled a valve K which is normally I in such position that the port at the end of the pipe L is open to the atmosphere. When the valve K is movd toward the left it opens communication between the port at "the end of the pi e L andap'ort at theend of a pipe M the ot er end of wliich is in communication with the transmission tube. The valve K is operated by a piston J mounted 'in'a'cylinder H, one end of which is connected with the supply pipe M through a branch pipeM and the other end of which is connected through a pipeG and check valve G with a chamber G which 'is incommunication with the outer end of the cushioning ohamberthroughalport F. Theipi e G also connects through a braneh pipe with a valvechamber I. The valve chamberl is normally c'losed byan exhaust valve 1 which is held to its seat by-a spring I? andis connected with a diaphragm C. The chamber above the diaphragm Cis connected-through a port B with the pipe B and when pressure is transmitted through this port to thediaphragm the valve I 'isoperated to open C0111- munication between the pipes G G and the atmosphere so that the pressure in said pipes is relieved.

When a carrier'is dischargedfrom the carrier or transmission tube it passes through the tube B into the cushioning 'chamber where it is brought to rest by reason of the compression of the air between the carrier and the valve 13. A part of the air compressed between the 'carrier and valve E passes. through port F, chamber G check valve 'G, and pipe G into the'end ofthecylinder H, and forces the piston J toward the left against the pressure transmitted from the carrier tube through the pipes M M. This "movement of the piston shifts the valve K to the left, opening communication between the'supplypipe Maud the pipe Land the valve is held in position the air entrapped in the pipes G G and cylinder H. Compressed air now flows through the ,pipe L and branch p'ipeN to the lower endof the cy linder R, the valve V beingopen at this time and the valve P in the branchgpipe 0 being closed to prevent the pas sage of air-to the lower end of cylinder T. The air thus to the ilower end of the cylinder R ra ses the piston S, thus closing the inner valve 1) As the piston S reaches the upper end (if the "cylinder 11 it passes the :port and compressed "air is supplied through this port and the pipe Q "therliaphragm l depressed, opening the valve P and a lowin 'cfompfessed air to flow through tll i1e'pipe us an to the chamber above so that this "diaphra in is O to the -'lower end of cylinder T. acts to raise the piston U, thus opening the valve E, and bringing the openingZ which is formed in the valve iplate into register with the tube B and cushioning chamber. Theupward movement ofzthe pistonUfrees the'ipin X and lever Y, "so that the lever F is operatedto release the-check valve V, which closes andpreventstheescape of air froni the lower end'of cylinder until the valve is again opened. 'After :the valve D is thus closed and the valve E opened, air is admitted back of .the carrier through a port A formed in the valve ID, and this air forcesthe carrier out through the tube Bso that it is delivered onto the receiving pan D After the rear end'of thecarrier has passed the port 13 the pressure back of the carrier is transmitted'throughthe ortB to the diaphragm C, forcing said diap rragm downagainst the tension of the spring l and opening the exhaust valve 1. This relieves thegpressure in the pipe Gr and right-hand end :of the cylinder H so that the pressure supplied through the pipe M moves the piston J to the right. This'movement of the piston shifts the valve K to the right, cutting off the communication between the supply pipe M and the pipe L, and openingthepipe L to the atmosphere. At this time the valve P is still held open by the com ressedair-entrapped within :the cylinder Ribelowthepiston S and the pressure within the lower end of the cylinder T is relieved, allowing the piston U to fall to the lower end of the cylinder by gravity, thus closingthe valve As the pistonU reaches the lowerend'of the cylinder T it strikes the pin Kand operates the bell crank levers Y and F to open the valve V and thus relieve the pressure inthelower end of the cylinder R. The-piston S now falls byrgravity to "the lower end of the cylinder, thus opening the inner valve D. At the same time the port Qis opened to the atmosphere through the cylinder 11' and pipe R, and the valve P is closed by the 'actionof the spring P. As soon as the carrier is delivered the port B is opened to the atmosphere, and the exhaust valve I is closed by'the spring 1 The {parts are now all in normal position, ready for the reception of another carrier.

By operatingandcontrolling the valves in substantially the manner described, the proper, timing of the parts is insured, and the valves are operated-in a reliable and effective manner with a minimum amount of Bowi compressed air, and the controlling of the parts is effected without requiring the presence of devices extending into the path of the carrier which are liable to cause injury to or undue wear upon the carrier and apparatus. Having set forth the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described one form of apparatus in which it may be embodied, what I claim is 1. A receiving apparatus for pneumatic despatch systems, having, in combination, a

cushioning chamber, a valve normally closin the same, a piston connected with the va ve, a cylinder within which the pistonis mounted having its up er end open to the atmosphere, an air supp y for the cylinder, a valve for controlling the air sup ly, means for operatin the controlling va ve by air compressed by the carrier and entrapping said air to hold the valve, and means for venting said entrapped air to return the controlling valve to normal position and vent the cylinder to allow the return of the iston to the lower end of the cylinder, su stantially as described.

2. A receiving apparatus for pneumatic despatch systems, having, in combination, a cushioning chamber, a valve normally closing the same, a piston connected with the valve, a cylinder within which the iston is mounted, an air supply for the cy inder, a valve for controlling the air supply, means for operating the controlling valve by air compressed by the carrier, a second valve for controlling the flow of air to and from the cylinder, an inner valve for the cushioning chamber, and means for controllin the opening and closing of said second va ve by the operation of the said inner valve, substantially as described. 7 p 3. A receiving apparatus for pneumatic despatch systems, having, in combination, an air cushioning chamber, a normally open inner and a normally closed outer valve for the chamber, pistons connected with the valves, cylinders Within which the pistons are mounted. open to the atmosphereat their upper ends, an air supply, means operated by the entrance of a carrier to connect the lower end of the inner cylinder with the air supply, means rendered operative by the closing of the inner valve to connect the outer cylinder with the air supply, means for discharging the carrier, means operated by the discharge of the carrier to disconnect the cylinders from the air supply and vent the outer cylinder,- and means operated by the closing of the outer valve to vent the inner cylinder, substantially as described.

4. A receiving apparatus for pneumatic despatch systems, aving, in combination, an air cushioning chamber, a normally open inner and a normally closed outer valve for the chamber, an air supply for operating the valves, a valve for controlling the air supply,

means for forcing said valve yieldingly in one direction, means for operating said valve in the opposite direction by air compressed between the carrier and the outervalve and entrapping said air to hold the valve, and means out of the path of and operated by the discharge of: the carrier to vent said en trapped air, substantially as described.

5. A receiving apparatus for pneumatic despatch systems, having, in combination, an air cushioning chamber, a normally open inner and a normally closed outer valve for the chamber, pistons connected to the valves, cylinders within which the pistons are mounted open to the atmosphere at their upper ends, an air supply, a valve for controlling the connections between the air supply and lower ends of the cylinders, means for operating said controlling valve in one direction by air com resse'd by the carrier and entrapping said air to hold the valve and means operated by the pressure backof the carrier after it has passed the outer valve to vent said entrapped air, substantially as de-i scribed.

6. A receiving apparatus for neumatic despatch systems, having, in com ination, a cushioning chamber, a normally open inner and a normally closed outer valve for the chamber, a piston connected to the inner valve, a cylinder in which the piston is mounted having one end open to the atmosphere, means operated by the entrance of a carrier into the cushioning chamber for admittin compressed air to' the other end of the cy inder of the inner valve to close the valve, and means 0 erated by the closing of the outer valve for a owing the escape of said air, substantially as described.

7. A receiving apparatus for neumatic despatch systems, having, in com ination, a cushioning chamber, a normally open inner and normally closedouter valve for the chamber, a piston connected to the inner valve, a cylinder in which the piston is mounted having one end open to the atmosphere during the opening and closing of the connected valve, a valve through which compressed air is admitted tothe end of the cylinder, and means for opening said valve to vent the cylinder by the closing of the outer valve, substantially as described.

8. A receiving apparatus for pneumatic despatch systems, having, in combination, a

cushioning chamber, a normally open inner and normally closed outer valve for the chamber, a piston connected to the inner valve, a cylinder in which the piston is mounted open to the atmosphere at its upper end, a supply pipe connected with the lower 7 end of the cylinder, a valve in the pipe for preventing back flow of air, means operated y the entrance of the carrier forconnecting said supply pipe with an air supply, means operated by the discharge of the carrier for venting thesup'ply pipe, and means for opening the valvein-the p1 e b'y thecl'o'singoi the outer valve, substantially as described.

9. A receiving apparatus 'for pneumatic despatch systems, having, in combination, a cus ioningchamber, a normally open inner and normally closed-outer valve for the chamber, an air supply, a valve for controlling the connections between the air supply and the valves, a piston connected with said controlling valve, a conduit 'leadin 'from the outer end oft-hecushionin'g chamber to one side of said piston, a check valve insai d conduit for preventing back flow of air, a normally closed "exhaust valve through which said conduit is vented,a diaphragm connected'to said valve, and-a port 'beyondthe'outer valve leading to one side of the diaphragm, substantially as described.

'10. A receiving apparatus for 'neumatic des atch systems, having, =inco'm ination, a cusliioning chamber, a normally open inner and normally closed outer -valve for the chamber, pistons connected to the valves, cylinders within which said pistons are mounted'ope'n to the atmosphere at theirupper ends,supplypi pes leading to the lower ends of the cylinders, a valve operatedby the entrance of a carrier for'controlling the con- 'nection betweensaid pi-pes and an airsnpply, valves in the pipes forcontrolling the flow of air to and from the cylinders, means for controlling the valve in the supply ipe for the outer cylinder by the closing and opening0f the inner valve, and means for controlling the valve in the supply pipe for theinner cylinder through the opening and closing of' the outer valve, substantially asd'escribed.

11. A receiving apparatus for pneumatic despatch systems, having, incombination, a cushioning chamber, a valve normally closing the same, an air supply for operating the valve, a valve for controlling the air supply, means 'for operating the controlling valve by air compressed by the carrier'a'nd entrapping said air to hold the valve, and means outoi' the path of the carrier for venting said'entrapped air to return the controlling valve to normal position, substantially as described.

12. A receiving apparatus for 'neumatic des atch systems, having, in coin inatio'n, a cue iioning chamber, a valve normally closing 'des :ageeaaa thesame a piston'connected witl'rthe valve,

a cylinder Within whichthe piston is mounted, an air su ply for the cylinder, a valvefor controlling t re commumcatmn between the cylinder and air supply, means for normally holding theya'lve in osition to'cutoff-com -muni.cation between t 1e cylinder and air supply, means for operating the'cont'rollmg valve stantially as described.

13. A receiving apparatus for neumatic cus ioning chamber, an inner and 'outer valve for the chamber, pistons connected with the valves, cylinders within which the pistjonsare mounted, open to the atmosphere at their upper ends, an air supply, means operated by-the entrance of the carrier to'connect thelower-en'd of theinnencylinder with thefa'ir s'upplyymeans operated'by theclosing oi thednner valve to connect the'outer cylinder with the air supply, means for disconnecting the cylmders'irom the air supply and venting the outer cylinder, and means 'op- 'erated by the closing of the outer valve to vent the innercylinder, substantially as described.

14. A -receiving apparatus for )nenniatic 'despIatchsystems, having, in com ination, a

cus ioning chamber, inner and outer valves -iorthe chamber, a piston connected with the inner valve, a cylinder in which the piston is mounted open to the atmosphere'at its upper end, a'sup'ply pipe connected with the lower atchsystems, having, in com ination, a i 

